Clamping device.



No, 851,875. PATENTED APR. so, 1907.

E. FRANKE.

CLAMPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.2,1905.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR: @a/ FY7205 .Fiwnka,

By his Allomey W Qy k is provided with 'loose pivotal connection of the jaws.

EMIL FRANKIE, OF HICKSVILLE, NEW YORK.

CLAIVIPING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Application filed September 2, 1905. Serial No. 276,813.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMIL FRANKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hicksville, Long Island, Nassau county, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clamping Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to clamps, and its pri-. mary object is to provide a novel and highly useful device of this character by means of which the lower edge of a skirt may be sustained slightly elevated so as to prevent the skirt dragging.-

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clamp constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being illustrated in applied position. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the clamp, the jaws being shown closed. Fig. 3 is a similar view, the jaws being shown opened, and Fig. 4 is a top plan view.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, 12 designate primary jaws which are approximately U-shaped and which have a loose pivotal connection. The free ends of the jaws are rolled, as at 16, to provide broad engagin ends. The other end of the jaw 1 a slot 3 opening out through its edge and with spaced and inwardly directed lu s 4, said lugs being provided with elongated slots 5. The other end of the jaw 2 is provided with a tongue having laterally projecting trunnions 7 which are mounted and movable in the slots 5, thus providing a loose pivotal connection between the jaws. When the j aw 2 is turned upon its trunnions 7, said trunnions move inwardly in the slots 5 and thus permit the engaging ends of the jaws to be spaced su'liiciently for the application of the fold of a skirt. When the jaws are closed, the tongue 6 rests against the inner surface of the jaw 1 and projects above the lugs 4, while when the aws are opened, the tongue 6 projects inwardly from the inner surface of the j aw 1, as fully disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3 of the-drawings. This move ment of the tongue 6 is permitted by lt jje e upper portion of the jaw 1 is provided with transversely extending slots 10 and 11, and

vertically movable in the slots is an auxiliary jaw S. The jaw S is held upon the jaw 1 against accidental displacement by means of lateral extensions 12 and 13, which, when the jaw 8 is applied, lie within the jaw 1 intermediate the slots 10 and 11. One end of the jaw'S is formed to provide an extension 9, while its other end is curved to dispose its engaging end above the engaging end of the jaw 1. In view of the manner in which the jaw S is connected to the jaw 1, its engaging end may he moved away from the engaging end of the jaw 1 by a dounward pressure applied to the extension 9. The aws 1-2 may be retained closed or opened and the engaging end of the jaw 9 retained normally in engagement with the engaging end of the jaw 1 by means of a leaf spring 14. The spring is secured to the inner surface of the jaw 1 by a rivet 15 to position its extremities in engagement with the tongue 6 and jaw 8. of the loose pivotal connection of the jaws 12, the edge of the tongue 6 is brought into engagement with the spring when the jaws are opened, thus permitting the spring to retain the jaws opened, and the tongue 6 is positioned between the inner surface of the jaw 1 and the spring when the jaws are closed, thus permitting the spring to retain the jaws closed.

The use of my improved clamp may be stated as follows: The clamp is applied to the skirt through the medium of the jaws 8 and 1 by causing the jaw S to clamp one fold of the skirt between its engaging end and the engaging end of the aw 1. After the clamp has been thus applied, the skirt is slightly elevated and a fold of the elevated portion clamped between the jaws 12. The constructions of the jaws 8, 1 and 2 permit the clamping of folds of the skirt between them. As the jaws 12 may be retained opened by means of the spring 14, the fold of the elevated portion of the skirt may be easily positioned between them.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and mode of operation of the invention will be understood without a further extended description.

Changes in the form, proportions and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In view Having fully described and illustrated my invention, what I claim is:

1. A clamp comprising primary jaws, one of said jaws being provided with a slotted lug, while the other of said jaws is provided with a tongue and trunnion, said trunnion being mounted in said lug, an auxiliary aw carried by one of the primary jaws, and a spring engaging the auxiliary jaw to retain it closed and engaging the tongue to retain the primary jaws either opened or closed.

2. A clamp comprising cooperating jaws pivotally connected together, an auxiliary jaw carried by and cooperating with one of the first named jaws, and a spring for retaining the auxiliary jaw normally closed and the first named jaws either opened or closed.

3. A clamp comprising primary jaws pivotally connected together, one of said jaws being provided with a tongue extending beyond the pivot of the jaws, an auxiliary jaw carried by and co-operating with one of the primary jaws, and a spring engaging the auxiliary jaw to retain it closed and engaging the tongue to retain the primary jaws either opened or closed.

4. A clamp comprising primary jaws pivotally connected together, an auxiliary jaw carried by and co-operating with one of the primary jaws, and a spring secured to one and engaging the other of the primary jaws to retain these jaws either opened or closed, said spring engaging the auxiliary jaw to retain it normally closed.

5. A clamp comprising primary jaws pivotally connected together, an auxiliary aw carried by and cooperating with one of the primary jaws, and a leaf spring secured within one and engaging the other of the primary jaws to retain these jaws either opened or closed, said spring engaging the auxiliary aw to retain it normally closed.

In testimony whereof, I have a'llixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EMIL FRANKE.

Witnesses:

WV. H. CLARKE, MADELEINE MroHEL. 

